betts



(No Model.) 2 Shets-She et 1. V

' L. F. BETTS.

- LAMP.

Patented June 4, 1895.

m: uonms wrrcns cow. moYaumow WASHXNGTON, n. c.

(No Model.) 4 2 SheetsSheet 2.

L.'P.BETTS.

LAMP. N ,296. Y Patented June 4, 1395.

WITNESSES INVEN T08- ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWISF. BETTS, oF Bnoo'KLYN, New YORK, ASSIGNORTO GEORGE B.

WILSON, TRUSTEE, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

LAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 540,296, dated June 4, 1895. Application filed February 16,1895. Serial No. 538,617. (1'0 model.)

To all whom it ndy concern;

Be itknown'that I, LEWIS F. Bnrrs, a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn, Kings-county, in the State of New York, have invented a'certain new and useful Improvement in Lamps, of-which the following is a specification.

The invention relates more particularly to hicles, as well as utilized in the form of a lantern to be carried around.

One of the main objects of this invention is to so arrange the parts of the lam p as ,to supply the flame with the requisite amount of air to produce proper combustion whileat the same time regulating the entrauceand exit of the air in such manner that-theflame. will burn steadily under all conditions ofjuse,

By this means I prevent sudden gusts ofair from extinguishing the flame or causing it; to flicker or smoke, while at the same time-any jarring that thelamp may be subjected to will not cause the flame tobe extinguished-- Another object of the invention is to'pro' vide improved means by which. thelamp can be resiliently supported on the frame ofa bicycle and readily detached from said support so as to enable it to be carried around by hand.

In carrying out the first-mentioned portion of my inventioml proyidea main body or easing, into the bottom of'which a suitable lamp-fount may be thrust and attached, as found most suitable. Within said casing I l place a reflector, preferably of parabolic form,

which is provided with a' lower opening through which the I wick-tube can project. Said reflector extends to the forward portion of the frame-or casing, and is so arranged as to permit air to pass back of it between it and the forward Walls of the casing. The forward end of the reflector meets a ring which carries a protecting glass, which ring, forward of the glass, is provided with a series of apertures to permit air to enter the casing, and to thus pass back of the reflector. In the back of the casing opposite the reflector, are a series of apertures for the exit of air, andat the opposite sides of the casing, slightly above the normal position of the wick, are side apertnres, outside of which are located shields, windows or doors which are pivoted on the casing and are arranged so as to shield the openings at the sides of the casing, but not reflector, substantially in line with the said apertures of the casing, are apertures somethe flame and at the same time the flame .is 'so; shielded that. in whichever direction the lampmay be moved, or ifit is jarred, or receives'concussions from any cause, the air will be prevented from suddenly attacking the flame, because the inlets and outlets for r the air are so arranged that the wick is protected, while at the same time supplied with the requisite quantity of air.

- In carrying out the second-mentioned portion of my invention, I inc'lose the wick in a metal tube and make it capable of movement with gentle friction upand down. I provide a spring of sufliciently long action to support dance to a considerable extent up and down with the motion of the bicycle carrying the lamp can be resiliently carried upon a bicyole." For this purpose I utilize a spring having two forwardly bent arms adapted to spring outwardly and to engage at their free ends with the frame of the lamp. These spring arms are carried in a clip composed of two parallel side arms forming a socket or space to receive a support on a bicycle, and provided with suitable means for holding said to tightly close the same. Inthe sides of. the

such tube,*with the efioct of allowing it to 1 socket upon said support, such as a thumbscrew or frictional clamping device.

The invention further consists inthe novel details of improvement and the combinations of parts that will be more fully hereinafter set forth and then pointed out in the claims. The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and represent what I consider the best means of carrying out the jthe wick-cartridge and its spring. Fig. 7 is a corresponding view looking at right angles to Fig. 6. Fig.8 is an enlarged side View, and Fig. 9 a plan view, of the wick-support. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the springsupport for thelamp. Fig. llisapartly-sectionai side view of the lamp on the line 11 11 in Fig. 12, and Fig. 12 isapartly-sectional face view thereof on the line l2 12 in Fig. 11.

In the accompanying-drawings, the letter A indicates the main casing of my improved lamp, which is shown provided at the top with a suitable perforated dome A and having provision at the lower portion to receive and hold a lamp fount, 1-3. I have shown the lampfount connected with the casing A by means of a bayonet-joint a, so arranged as to receive the wick-shaft b of the lamp-fount, so that by turning the latter, said wick-shaft will pass into the horizontal portion of the L-shaped slot at, to hold the lamp-fount. in position. To hold the shaft Z) in proper position in the slot at, I have shown a spring-band 13 having an aperture 1), to receive the end of the shaft 1) to lock it in position. The spring B is suitably'seeured t0 the casing A, and its free end may be bent outwardly to permit the end of the shaft 1) to readily ride under it. In detaching the fonnt from the casing it is only necessary to push the spring B outwardly to,

release the shaft 1) from the aperture 17'. Any

other suitable means may be provided for re movably connecting the lamp fount with the casing A.

. In the back of the casing A is an enlarged opening 0, over which is placed a perforated plate or mesh D,see Fig. 2,-which may be held in place by any suitable means, as by spinning a portion of the casing over said perforated plate or mesh, and riveting it thereto if desired.

E is a reflector, shown of substantially parabolic form,its forward end having outwardly extending lugs e, which rest against the'flaring mouth A of the casing A. Lugs or projections e may be provided on the flaring mouth A to assist in holding the reflector in position within the casing, the insertion of the reflector being effected by first moving the lugs e out ofline with the lugs e, and then turnin the the flame up into the dome.

reflector to cause said lugs to align, see Figsz- 11 and 12; but'other suitable means may be employed for this purpose, if desired. -Between the lugs e of the reflector E and the corresponding wall of the flaring month A of the casing, are produced openings e ,see Figs. 4 and 12,which permit the passage of air into the casing and around the exterior of said reflector.

F is anjannular cone-like ring, adapted to 1 fit into the open end ofthe casing A, as into its flaring mouth A the inner edges of this ring F lapping the forward edges of the reflector E. See Fig. 11. y

The cone-like ring F is shown provided with a curled edgef, adapted to lap over the outer edge of the flaring mouth A of the casing A, and the ring Fis also provided with an annular groove f, in which fits a glass G.

g is awire ring, also fitting into the'gioove f and adapted to retainthe glass G in position.

The ring F in front of the glass G is provided with a series of apertures F which lead to the space between the ring F and the flaring mouth A of the casing, so as'to permit air to pass through said apertures and into the casing back of the reflector through the openings 6 as before stated.

The rin F is ireferablv made removable and for this purpose I have shown spring arms H, which are attached to the sides of-the casing A, and have outwardly curved ends J2, which takennder the curled edgefot' the. ring F, thereby holding said ring in position on the flaring mouthA of the casing A,see Fig. 3,the curved ends of the springs II being there shown in dotted lines; By merely pressing a spring-arm I-I inwardly, the ring F will be released, the out-ward spring tendency of said arms 11 serving to hold the curved ends h of said spring arms against the curlfof the ring F.

In the lower portion of the reflector E is an aperture E, into which the wick-tube B of the lamp-fountdS may project, whereby the flame can burn within said reflector. E? is an aperture in the reflector E directly above the aperture E, and permits the exit of the heated products of combustion which may pass therefrom through the apertured dome A of the lamp-casing A.

E is a metal tube adapted to fit within the upper opening of the casing A, at its connection with the dome A and serves as a chim- I ney to direct the products of combustion from The lower edge of the tube E is inclined rearwardly, and is given thenecessary curve to conform to .the

outline of the reflector E, where it joins said reflector. See Figs. 1 and 2.

E are apertures in the side walls of the re: flector E, and located on a plane a little above the normal position of the wick, and so arranged as to supply air to, as well as to draw air from,'theinterior of the reflector, whereby a moderate circulation of air within said reflector can take place, the air within said reflectorbeing prevented from suddenly attacking the flame. s A are apertures in the sides of the casing A and substantially in line with the side apertures E of the reflector E, the apertures A serving when air travels air from the casing andfrom the reflector E through the apertures E whereby a moderate circulation of air is produced.

In order to modify the draft of air through the apertures A and at the'same time to permit the said apertures to serve as openings through which the flame "can' supply sidelight's, I provide shields, windows or doors I, which are pivoted as at'ton the casing A, and extend across the openings A The shields, windows or doors I are located at a slight dis tance from the side ofthe casing mit the circulation of air between said casing and said shields,wiudows or doors, as shown in Figs. 3 and 1, a projection i on the windows lows:

serving in conjunction with the hinges 2' to hold said windows or doors at the desired di tance from the casing.

The shields, windows or doors I are shown in the form of framings 1 provided with glass 1 which maybe colored if desired, to serve as the usual distinguishing side-lights of bicycle lamps. The shieldswindows or doors I may be held in the closed position by'any suitable means, and} can be opened to permit a match to be thrust through the apertures A E in the casing and the reflector respectively, for the purposeof lighting the lamp without removing the fount.

For convenience'of manufacture I have shown the shields, windows ordoorsl as held in the closed position by the springarms H, which for this purpose have a bend at 72;, forming a spring-acting bar 7L2, against which the edge of the corresponding window or door I may press. By thismeans the spring arms II serve two purposes, one, holding the shields, windows or doors closed, the other holding the ring F'in position; but of course,

7 the shields, windows or doors I can be otherwise suitably held upon the'casing.

When in use the airis supplied to the flame in my improved lamp substantially,.as fol- It will enter the casing through the openings F in the ring F, and pass back of the reflector E, through the spaces c between the reflector and'the casing, some of the'air entering the reflector through the apertures therein, and when the lantern is being transported, the apertures in the plate D serve to create a moderate draft through the lam casin g, the reflector pro'tcctin g the flame from sudden gusts. The side openings A also serve to supply air to the casing ;while at the same time, assaid'openings A are not wholly closed, the up-and-down movements that the lamp maybe subjectedto, cause a circulation of airpast the openingsAt between them and the shields, windowsor doors I, whereby a steady, moderate and equalized movement of.

past them to draw.

A, to per-.

and'outthrough the openings E according to whether the lamp sinks or rises through the unevenness oftravel; but this circulatmg action is moderated by the capacity of the openings in the reflector, so that under will be sustained without dangerof being extinguished by a scarcity of air, or by a sudden gust of air reaching it. v

The windows I not only serve to generate a circulation through the apertures A, but also act as a shield to prevent air' from suddenly rushing into said apertures to inter fere with the free burning of the lamp.

.I is a bail, suitably curved and pivotally attached to thelamp as by tionvwith the dome A ,'b y which means the lamp can be carried around conveniently as a lantern. This bail may be made of spring Wire so as to enable it to be readilydetached from the lamp, if desired, by merely spreading its ends to release it from-the dome A I'have shown the fonnt B as providedwith an annular groove 13 having an aperture 1/ leading back into the fount, whereby any'oil thatdri'ps from the wick or oozes from the up- .per portion of the lamp fount will find its way back into the fount. At the outer side of the fount-I provide an aperture 11 in the.

per part of the fount B, said casing havinga plate It at its upper end, provided with an aperture k aligned with-an aperture in the fount B beneath it, the construction of the fount B being slightly different from that shown in the other figures.

L is a tube which may. tocon'tain a wick,and M is a sufficiently long L, and located within the casing K. The spring M is attached near its middle as at Z, to the tube L'and bears at its upper and lower extremities against the top and bottom'ot the inclosing casing K. When the lamp issub' 'jected to concussion the wick tube Land its contents may dance withinthe casing K by all conditions a substantially steady flame K is a casing, showira's attached to the up be of suitable shape coiled or helical-spring surrounding the tube as downward through the upper opening E suitable connecthe yielding of thespring M. It follows that suclryielding allows the wick to dance, so that any shock imparted to the lamp will be reducedin violence or not felt by the wick tube and its contents. 7 I

N, is a tube shownlocated in the tube L and f provided with perforations n, and inclosing a wickO, which may be of asbestos or other durable fibrous material adapted to perform the functions of a wick and to maintain itself L and theinclosed cartridge N are carried alattention. V

lows the flame to be maintained at substantially' uniform level and of the uniform size, not only avoiding extinguishment, but any serious fluctuations in the size of the flame and the quantity of light emitted as well.

The material 0 serving as the wick may be adjusted to the desired height within the cartridge or tube N, by any suitable means, as by a pin inserted obliquely through the upper open end of the cartridge and properly manipulated or inserted through any of the holes n of the cartridge and so worked as to move the contents upwardly relatively to the cartridge N.

By using asbestos the wick in the cartridge case will serve'a long periodwithout further The tube or cartridge'N may be held in the tube L by frictional contact or by any other preferred means.

The cartridge case N is conveniently made by bending a sheet of previously perforated metal to form a tube of the required size and shape, and the edges may abut or be secured together as desired. The perforations n al- .low the oil to be absorbed freely where it is immersed, and permit the vapor produced by the rapid evaporation of oil at and near the topof the wick-tube to escape not only through the extreme end but also laterally when the cartridge is setlsufficiently high in the wick tube to expose any of the perforations above the latter.

It isimportant that the motion between the exterior of the wick-tube L and the easing K in which it is inclosed, shall be suflicient to gently restrain the dancingm'otion.

of the wick and prevent it from becoming excessive in any case; and it is also important that it shall be so little that the wick-tube and its contents may dance, or more properly,

- may stand still while the lamp with its casin g K makes slightly vertical movements with the jolting motions to which the lamp maybe subjected.

My improvedmeans for supporting the lamp ,upon a bicycle are as follows:

P is a spring of suitable material shown bent in substantiallyW-form, its free ends the lamp casing. By this means the outward spring tendency of the arms of the spring P serves to hold said arms in connection with the lamp. 'In order to prevent the weight or swinging action of the .lamp from causing spontaneous detachment of the lamp from the supporting spring'P, I have shown a brace Q, which extends from the lower arm P of' the spring P to the upper arm P thereof. This brace Q is preferably of spring metal, having a tendency to move toward the lamp, and its upper part is so bent as to have a shoulder q, and is provided with a knob g which are adapted'to pass into and through a suitablyshaped aperture 10 in the arm P of the spring P. When in the normal position; the shoulder q of the brace Q will rest'under the arm P of the spring P, and thus hold said arms apart and in connection with the respective portions of the lamp. I v

When it is desired to remove the lamp from its supporting spring P, the braceQ is moved backward passing through the-slot p of the arm P of the spring P, thereby permitting said arm P to be depressed to release it from the lamp.

,I have shown'thespring P as supported by a clip R, which has two parallel arms 7* that receive the spring P between them. arms 4' of the clip R, are shown extending from the main portion of the clip, which is bent in substantially oblong form to produce a socket R into which a suitable support from a bicycle may project. The connection between the arms 0 of the clip R and the.

of the clip R, and enter the corresponding- The curved portions'of the spring P, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. By this means the rivets r r serve to vhold the arms 0" of the clip R in position'against the contained spring P, and

also serve to hold said spring in position while allowing free movement to the material of said spring.

S is a suitably arranged thumb-nut shown carried-by the clip R' for connecting the latter with a support on a bicycle, but if preferred the well-known rubber friction tubeheretofore in use, may be provided.

In order to prevent too much rocking of the lamp upon the spring 1?, I may swing the bail J backward and under the spring P, and hold it in position against said spring by means of a clip T carried by said spring, as shown. To thus adjust the parts the spring P is first removed and the bail swungdown to the desired position, the spring being then passed through the bail and connected with the lamp,

the'bail then being swung into its clip T but of course the clip T may be otherwise arranged to connect the bail with the spring P, if desired. On the under side of the arm P of the spring P, I have shown a shoulder P which may rest againstthe lamp casing and-serve as an abutment to assist in sustaining the lamp upon the spring P.

'When in the specification I say shields, 5, windows or doors, I, it means such parts as serve to prevent gusts of air from rushing into the casing through apertures A", while allowing air. to circulate or travel between the casing and the part 1 I do not limit my invention to the precise details of construction herein set forth, as they may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention. It will be under stood that the part marked E, which I have shield.

. Having now described myginvention, what I claim is- 1. In a lamp the combination of a casing describedasa reflector, is at the same timea having a side opening and a shield for said opening, held at a distance fI'OIlIthG casing, with a reflector within said casing having a side opening to serve with said opening in the lamp casing, and means to permit air to enter said casing and 'to surround said reflector, substantially as set forth.

2. In a lamp the combination of a casing having a side opening and a shield therefor held at a distance from the outer wall of said 39 casing, but in line with said opening, to per mit air to circulate between said casing and said shield, with a reflector within said casing having a s'ideopening to correspond with the opening in the casing, meansto permit air to 3 5 enter said casing and surround said reflector,

and perforations in the back of said casing for the passageof air, substantially as set forth.

3. In a lamp the combination of a casing having a side opening'and a shield therefor,

40 with a reflector within said casing having a side opening to correspondwith said opening -in thecasing, a transparent protector located at or near the forward portion of said reflector, means to permit air to enter said casing 5 forward of said protector and to pass Within said casing around said reflector, said casing having apertures at the back for the passage of air, substantially as set forth. 4. In a lamp the combination of a casing having suitable air-outlets,with a reflector within said casing having apertures E, E means to permit air to enter said casing at the forward portion of said reflector around :the latter, a ring located at the for-ward por- 5 5 tion of the casing and adapted to direct air back of said reflectorand forming part of the means to permit air to enter the casing, and a. transparent protector between said apertures and said reflector, substantially as set forth.

to form a-space between'the casing and said shield, :with a reflector having aperturesE,

E and an aperture at one side to correspond to the aperture A? in the" side of. the casing, means to permit air to pass into the casing from the forward portion of said reflector so as to surround the latter, a ring F adapted to be connected with the forward portion of said; casing and to lead to said reflector, a transparent protector carried by said ring, the ar rangement being such that air can enter said casing through thering and pass backot and surround the contained reflector, substantially as set forth.

having apertures for the exit of air, a side aperture A a window or door hinged to said casing so asto extend across the opening A ,v and means to hold saidwindow or door at a distance from said casing to permit the circulation of air between said door and easing; with a reflector having apertures E, E and a side aperture E to correspond with theaperture A in the casing, a transparent protector at or near the forward'portion of said re-- flector, and a ring having apertures, the latter being located in front 'of said protector, the

enter saidapertures and to pass into said casforth. .7. In a lamp the combination of a casing havin g air-outlet apertures, a side aperturrA and a shield for said aperture, arranged to permit air to circulate acrosssaid aperture with a' reflector having lugs at its forward edge to provide spaces between said reflector and;' said c'asin g for the passage of air said reflectorhaving an aperture E to correspond with the aperture A in the casing, a ring F having apertures leading into said casingbnd a'prbtector located between the apertures in said ring and the main portion of the reflector, substantially as set forth. 7 8. In a lamp the combination of a casing having air-outlet apertures, a side opening A and a shield for said opening, arranged substantially as set forth, with a reflector carried within said casing, and adapted to permit air to pass around it-into the said casing, a ring F located at the flaring mouth of saidcasing and having'a curled edge f adapted "to receive the flaring mouth of said casing, and a transparent protector, said ring having apertures located forward of said protector-to permitair to pass into the'ca'sin g back ofthe reflector, and a spring arm H having a curved end to take under the 'curl of said ring, said/spring arm being carried by the casing, substantially as set forth.

9. In alamp a casing having air-outlets and a side opening A", a transparent window caropening, so as to permit the circulation of air past said opening, with a reflector having an opening correspondin'g'to the opening A in the casing,and means to permit air to-enter J said casing in advance of said reflector so as 6. In a lamp the combination of a casing parts being arranged so as'to permit air; to

ried by the casing at a distance from'said to pass around the latter, substantially as herein specified.

10. In a lamp the combination of a casing having air-outlet openings, and a side opening A, a window I consisting of a framing I hinged to the casing and carrying the transparent protector 1 said frame having a projection 4 which with the hinge serves to hold thewindow at a distance from the side of the casing, with a reflector within said casing hav- 1 ing a side opening E to correspond with the opening-A in the casing,'and also having openings E, 13*, with means to permitair to enter said casing in advance of said reflector so as topass around the same within the'cas =ring F having a curled edge to engage the edge of the flaring mouth of the casing, a transparent protector carried by said ring and located at or near the forward end of the refiector, said ring having apertures forward of said protector, a spring arm H carried by the casing and having a curved end to take under the curl of the ring F, and a bar If to hold the free edge of said window substantially as set forth.

12. The combination of a casing having perforations at its top, a flaring mouth A at one side, said casing having perforations on the side directly opposite said flaring-mouth, said casing also having openingsA on opposite sides, shields or windows over said openings held at a distance from said casing to permit a circulation of air past said opening between said windows or shields and said casing, with a reflector carried within said casing and having openings E, IE at the bottom and top thereof, side openings E adapted to substantially align with the openings E in the casing, said reflector having means at its forward portion to permit air to pass between it and the casing, a cone-like ring F, adapted to lap the forward edges of said reflector, said ring having apertures forward of the transparent protector adapted to permit air to pass into the casing and between it and the reflector,

and means for removably holding the ring F upon the casing, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination of a spring having two outwardly extending arms adapted to be attached to a lamp,-'the central portion of said spring being doubled upon itself in substantially W-form, with a clip having two parallel arms to inclose said doubled portion vof said spring, substantially as set forth;

14:. The combination of a spring having two outwardly extending arms adapted to be attached to a lamp, the central portion of saidspring being doubled upon itself in substantially W-form, with a clip having two parallel arms; said clip forming a socket to receive asupport, and rivets, bolts or the like connecting said arms of said clip,and passing respectively through the looped portions of said spring, substantially as set forth.

15. The combinationof aspring having two outwardly extending arms one of said arms having an opening or slot with a brace secured to the opposite arm, and having a shoulder adapted to rest against the arm having the slot, said brace being adapted to pass in to said slot, to release the spring arm from the shoulder and brace, substantially as set forth.

l6. A spring having two outwardly extend- .ing arms, the outer ends of said arms being be connected with said ball, to steady the lamp, and a clip to retain the bail in proper.

connection with the spring, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I aliix my signature in pres ence of two witnesses.

LEWIS F. BETTS.

Witnesses: v 'I. F. BoURN'n,

M. F. BOYLE. 

